Hair treatment applicator

ABSTRACT

An applicator ( 10 ) to apply a treatment to hair, such as a die. The applicator ( 10 ) has a stem ( 11 ) with a passage ( 13 ) that receives the liquid to be applied to the hair. Fixed to the stem ( 11 ) is an applicator portion ( 21 ) having apertures ( 24 ) in the form of slits into which the hair enters for the liquid to be applied thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to hair treatment applicators for applying hair compositions to hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Described in International Patent Application PCT/AU2007/001759 is an applicator that applies liquid to hair.

A disadvantage of the applicators described in the above International patent application is that the application can be relatively complex to manufacture and assemble thereby adding to their cost.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an applicator to apply liquid to hair, the applicator including:

a hollow stem providing a passage to receive the liquid and from which the liquid flows to an opening in the stem via which liquid leaves the stem;

an applicator portion fixed to the stem adjacent said opening, the applicator portion including a surface part over which hair is to pass, an aperture in said surface in communication with the passage via the opening, with said portion being formed of resilient material so that said aperture is urged to a substantially closed position, with said portion, when engaged by hair, being resiliently deformed to cause the aperture to open to aid in delivery of the liquid to hair passing the surface; and

-   -   a clamp member engaged with the portion and urging the portion         into engagement with and retaining the portion fixed to said         passage.

Preferably said portion has a chamber between said opening and aperture and which receives the liquid from said stem.

Preferably, said stem includes an end part with said opening, which end part projects into said portion, with said clamp member surrounding said portion and urging said portion into engagement with said end part.

Preferably, said clamp has an internal surface and said end part an external surface, between which surfaces there is provided a socket within which said portion projects.

Preferably, said stem is elongated so as to provide a handle to be gripped by a user.

Preferably, said aperture is a first aperture, and the applicator portion has further apertures so as to have a plurality of apertures, with each aperture communicating with said passage so as to receive liquid therefrom.

Preferably, said applicator portion is elongated so as to extend in a direction generally transverse of an intended direction of travel of the applicator over hair.

Preferably, said stem is longitudinally elongated generally normal to said direction.

Preferably, each aperture is a slit.

Preferably each slit is configured to allow hair passing along the slit to pass through said chamber.

Preferably, said end part is circular or oval in configuration.

Preferably, said clamp member resiliently deforms said portion when urging said portion into engagement with said stem.

In an alternative preferred form said clamp member is rigid.

Preferably, said clamp member is resiliently deformed when urging said portion into engagement with said stem.

Preferably, said stem has a vent via which air is allowed to enter said passage to provide for the flow of liquid from said passage.

Preferably, said end part has at least one rib that is engaged by said portion.

Preferably, said clamp member is of a ring configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred from of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of an applicator to apply liquid to hair;

FIG. 2 is a schematic parts exploded side elevation of the applicator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a further applicator, the further applicator being a modification of the applicator of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectioned enlarged view of part of the applicator of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are modifications of the applicator of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a schematic front elevation of a further applicator;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side elevation of the applicator of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional side elevation of the applicator as shown in FIG. 9 sectioned along the line 10-10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted an applicator 10 to apply liquid to hair. The liquid may be a dye or other hair treatment liquid.

The applicator 10 includes a stem 11 which in this embodiment is elongated so as to have a longitudinal axis 12 and is preferably of a rectangular transverse cross-section. The stem 11 is elongated so that it can be gripped by a user and thus provide a handle. Accordingly the applicator 10 is hand held and hand manipulated.

The stem 11 is hollow so as to provide a longitudinally extending passage 13 being closed at one end by an end wall 14. The other end of the passage 13 terminates with an end opening 15. The passage 13 receives the above liquid and provides for flow of the liquid from the passage 13 to the end opening 15.

The longitudinal wall or walls 16 of the stem 11 may be substantially rigid however one or more of the walls 16 may be resiliently deformable so that a user can apply pressure to the liquid causing it to flow to the opening 15.

The stem 11 has an end part 18 that provides a flange 17 that may be oval or circular in configuration so as to extend about the axis 12. The flange 17 terminates with the opening 15. The flange 17 extends longitudinally of the axis 12. Adjacent the flange 17 is a further flange 19 that extends radially outward relative to the axis 12 and provides a surface 20 again surrounding the axis 12.

Mounted on the flange 17 is an applicator portion 21 that is formed of resiliently deformable material, such as a plastics (including silicon materials) or rubber (natural or synthetic). The portion 21 is hollow so as to provide a chamber 22 that is in communication with the opening 15 so as to receive liquid therefrom. The portion 21 has a head 23 generally enclosing the chamber 22 and that is provided with at least one aperture 24. The aperture 24 is in a form of a slit located in a plane passing along or generally parallel to the axis 12. The aperture 24 extends inwardly of the head 23 from a surface 25 so as to communicate with the chamber 22.

The portion 21 also has a mounting 26, formed integral with the head 23 and that is preferably of a configuration that will match the flange 17. For example if the flange 17 is circular or oval in configuration then the mounting 26 will also be circular or oval in configuration. The mounting 26 has an annular recess 28 having as its longitudinal axis the axis 12.

When the mounting 26 is located on the flange 17, the recess 28 surrounds the flange 17.

Mounted in the recess 28 is a clamp 27 that is in the form of a ring. Typically the clamp 27 would be of an oval or circular configuration to match the configuration of the flange 17 and mounting 26. The clamp 27 is located in the recess 28 and urges the mounting 26 into engagement with the flange 17 to thereby secure the portion 21 to the flange 17 and therefore the stem 11. The clamp 27 may be substantially rigid or may be resiliently deformable so as to be deformed and urged into contact with the mounting 26, then urging the mounting 26 into engagement with the flange 17. Since the portion 21 is formed of resilient material the mounting 26 is compressed into engagement with the flange 17.

Preferably the flange 17 has one or more annular ridges 29 that engage the internal surface of the mounting 26 to aid in securing the portion 21 to the flange 17.

When the portion 21 is mounted on the flange 17, the mounting 26 abuts the surface 20. When the clamp 27 is in place in the recess 28 and the mounting 26 on the flange 17 the portion 21 sealingly engages the flange 17.

The clamp 27 has an internal surface 35 that is spaced from the external surface 36 of the end part 18 so as to provide a socket 37 of annular configuration into which the mounting 26 projects. The socket 37 as mentioned is of an annular configuration having as its central axis the axis 12.

Preferably the stem 11 has a vent 29 that provides for air to be delivered to the passage 13 thereby enabling the liquid to flow from the passage 13.

Preferably a pin 30 is provided that may be used to select hair strands to which the liquid is to be applied. In one embodiment the pin 30 has a slot 36 that aids in selecting strands of hair to be applied to the aperture 24.

In use of the above described applicator 10, a user grips the stem 11 and positions the vent 29 so that it is above liquid level in the stem 11. Strands of hair are located on the aperture 24 so as to open the aperture 24. The stem 11 is then tilted so that liquid flows to the chamber 22 and aperture 24. The applicator is then moved along the hair to apply the liquid thereto. The hair causes deformation of the head 23 to open the aperture 24 providing for the flow of liquid to hair passing over the surface 25 and/or along the aperture 24 so as to be applied to the hair. The hair may also pass through the chamber 22. In this respect it should be appreciated that, as described above, the part 21 is formed of resilient material. Accordingly the aperture 24 is urged closed.

The surface 25 is moved over the hair in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the drawings of FIGS. 1 and 2. This is a direction generally normal to the axis 12.

The applicator 10 may also be provided with a tube 31 having a projection 32 that may be inserted in the vent 29, with any liquid exiting the vent 29 being contained within the body 33 of the tube 31. Typically the tube 31 would be provided with a vent aperture 34.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is schematically depicted a modification of the applicator 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment the flange 17 has a single ridge 29 that engages the internal surface of the mounting 26.

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 the applicator 10 of the previous embodiment is modified so as to have a longitudinally extending duct 38. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 the duct is provided by means of a tube, while in the embodiment of FIG. 7 the duct 38 is formed in longitudinally extending side wall 16 in each instance the duct 38 terminates with a vent opening 39 in the end wall 14. Each duct 38 extends a substantial distance longitudinally of the passage 13 so as to provide an end opening 40 spaced towards the opening 15 from the end wall 14.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10 the modified applicator 10 is of an oval or “tear drop” configuration so as to better fit within the palm of a user's hand. Accordingly, the stem 11 has walls 16 that are arcuate. Extending to the wall 16 at a position spaced from the applicator portion 21 is a tube 41 providing the duct 38. Preferably, the wall 16 has a depression 42 within which the user's thumb may be positioned. 

1. An applicator to apply liquid to hair, the applicator including: a hollow stem providing a passage to receive the liquid and from which the liquid flows to an opening in the stem via which liquid leaves the stem; an applicator portion fixed to the stem adjacent said opening, the applicator portion including a surface part over which hair is to pass, an aperture in said surface in communication with the passage via the opening, with said portion being formed of resilient material so that said aperture is urged to a substantially closed position, with said portion, when engaged by hair, being resiliently deformed to cause the aperture to open to aid in delivery of the liquid to hair passing the surface; and a clamp member engaged with the portion and urging the portion into engagement with and retaining the portion fixed to said passage.
 2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said portion has a chamber between said opening and aperture and which receives the liquid from said stem.
 3. The applicator according to claim 2, wherein said stem includes an end part with said opening, which end part projects into said portion, with said clamp member surrounding said portion and urging said portion into engagement with said end part.
 4. The applicator according to claim 3, wherein said clamp has an internal surface and said end part an external surface, between which surfaces there is provided a socket within which said portion projects.
 5. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said stem is elongated so as to provide a handle to be gripped by a user.
 6. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said aperture is a first aperture, and the applicator portion has further apertures so as to have a plurality of apertures, with each aperture communicating with said passage so as to receive liquid therefrom.
 7. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said applicator portion is elongated so as to extend in a direction generally transverse of an intended direction of travel of the applicator over hair.
 8. The applicator according to claim 7, wherein said stem is longitudinally elongated generally normal to said direction.
 9. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein each aperture is a slit.
 10. The applicator according to claim 9, wherein each slit is configured to allow hair passing along the slit to pass through said chamber.
 11. The applicator according to claim 3, wherein said end part is circular or oval in configuration.
 12. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said clamp member resiliently deforms said portion when urging said portion into engagement with said stem.
 13. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said clamp member is rigid.
 14. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said clamp member is resiliently deformed when urging said portion into engagement with said stem.
 15. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said stem has a vent via which air is allowed to enter said passage to provide for the flow of liquid from said passage.
 16. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said end part has at least one rib that is engaged by said portion.
 17. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said clamp member is of a ring configuration. 